| Jan 26, 2013

Festival celebrates international cooperation

The One World Festival will take place Feb. 2 and 3 in Osaka to raise awareness of international cooperation through education, interaction and mutual assistance. During the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, NPOs and NGOs based in the ...

| Jan 19, 2013

Enjoy fireworks display on Mount Wakakusa

A huge field on Mount Wakakusa in Nara Prefecture will be set on fire at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 following a 15-minute fireworks display. Admission to the mountain is free on the day of the event, which is held annually, but visitors will not ...

| Jan 5, 2013

Nishinomiya hosting hand drum concert

The Otani Memorial Art Museum in the city of Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, will hold a small hand drum concert Jan. 14 from 2 p.m., while works by various Japanese-style painters are on display through Feb. 17. Those wishing to attend the concert are required ...

| Dec 29, 2012

Penguins parade near Osaka aquarium

Visitors to Osaka’s Kaiyukan aquarium can watch king penguins parading in front of the building on most days until Jan. 14. The birds will take about 20 minutes to walk about 70 meters, and the scheduled times are 11:30 a.m., 1:45 and 3:45. p.m. ...

| Dec 22, 2012

Come laugh your heads off at Osaka shrine

Visitors to Hiraoka Jinja Shrine in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, can join in the laughing ceremony Tuesday to welcome a more joyous new year. During the free event, which starts at 10 a.m., priests will encourage attendees to laugh for about 20 minutes. There will ...

| Dec 15, 2012

Yearend temple cleanups open to the public

Yearend cleaning of Buddhist temples and statues will take place in various locations in Kyoto and Nara toward the end of this month. In Kyoto, Nishi Honganji Temple will be spruced up starting at 7 a.m., while Higashi Honganji Temple will be cleaned starting ...

| Dec 1, 2012

Award-winning European film on tap in Suita

The National Museum of Ethnology in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, will show the award-winning film “The Kid with a Bike,” a Franco-Belgian-Italian production, on Dec. 9. The French-language movie, which was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, will be screened ...

| Dec 1, 2012

Award-winning European film on tap in Suita

The National Museum of Ethnology in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, will show the award-winning film “The Kid with a Bike,” a Franco-Belgian-Italian production, on Dec. 9. The French-language movie, which was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, will be screened ...

| Nov 24, 2012

Film event showcases homegrown culture

Three Japanese films with English subtitles featuring homegrown culture will be shown Nov. 29 and 30 in Kyoto. The Japan Foundation Kyoto Office will present “Zeami and the Noh Theater” and “The Noh Mask” Nov. 29 and “The Makioka Sisters” Nov. 30. The event ...

| Nov 17, 2012

Free kimono fitting by professionals in Toyonaka

Offering a slice of traditional Japanese culture, professional fitters will help non-Japanese dress in kimono Nov. 25 in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture. Women are required to bring tank tops and leggings and men running shorts to wear under the kimono. Ten women and two men ...

| Nov 10, 2012

Free health check in Kyoto for non-Japanese

Non-Japanese residents can get a health checkup and consult with health experts Nov. 17 in Kyoto. The nonprofit group CHARM and the Kyoto City Youth Service Foundation are hosting the event. Tests for sexually transmitted disease will be offered to 30 people and chest ...